The approach on the adoption of the information technology to enhance food security at the provincial level of Thailand

Abstract

The change in technology plays an important role in facilitating operations in various dimensions including information. The application of information technology will enhance more accurate, correct and faster. Food Security can utilize the adopting of the information technology because food security is a global agenda that all countries place their importance on it. Safe and nutritious food will have a positive effect on work efficiency and on the economic growth and national security.

This study aims to study the food security situation at the global, national and provincial level. The second one is to analyze relevant factors, problems, and obstacles affecting food security and nutrition at the provincial level using the database on the major agricultural production at the provincial level. The last one is to provide recommendation for driving food security at the provincial level of Thailand.

The study found that situations of food security and nutrition at the global, national and provincial levels are still vulnerable as reflected by the numbers of the undernourishment people and the assessment of food security by international institution. Considering the self-sufficiency ratio of food availability, although Thailand is self-reliant among almost main nutrition groups except fat, the calculation methods is preliminary analysis. In term of food security at the provincial level, each province needs to conduct the food emergency preparedness plan, however, there are no certain guidelines or principles or methods to calculation food sufficiency.  For the analysis of nutrient sufficiency per population at the provincial level of 77 provinces of 5 important nutrients, namely carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals (calcium, potassium and iron), vitamins (A, C and E) found that provinces that do not have self-sufficiency of carbohydrate accounted for 28.57 percent, most of which are provinces in the southern region. For protein, there are 3 provinces that are insufficient namely Samut Sakhon, Samut Prakan and Bangkok. In term of fats, there are 6 provinces that are insufficient which are Phuket, Buriram, Nonthaburi, Samut Sakhon, Samut Prakan and Bangkok. For calcium, there are provinces that do not have self-sufficiency accounted for 66.23 percent. In term of the potassium, provinces that are insufficient accounting for 57.14 percent. For iron, there are 9 provinces that are insufficient which are Nonthaburi, Trat, Samut Sakhon, Samut Prakan, Bangkok, Satun, Surat Thani, Phatthalung and Krabi. In term of Vitamin A and E, there are no provinces that are nutrition sufficiency. For vitamin C, provinces that do not have nutrition sufficiency representing for 42.85 percent. It can be seen that the provinces do not have sufficiency of nutrients in all groups are Samut Sakhon, Samut Prakan and Bangkok. However, the analysis of the sufficiency of nutrients is a preliminary analysis using the quantity of agricultural products and population as main factors and does not cover other relevant factors such as the income of the population in the province population per area and land use, etc.

The researcher provides recommendation on the approach on the adoption of the information technology to enhance food security at the provincial level of Thailand considering 4 dimensions of food security. Food availability, it is recommended to utilize the information technology for visualization of the sufficiency of nutrients in each province, providing guideline of data collection on the distribution of produce and importing produce into the province or seeking methods for obtaining academic information which will enable the calculation more complete, accurate and reflect the production situation in the province. Food accessibility, it is recommended to visualize data of the agricultural and food establishments, price of agricultural products and food, also average income so that provinces can manage their situation in term of food insecurity more effectively. Food utilization, the recommendation is to provide the data linkage of Good Agricultural Practice or GAP database of plant, livestock and aquaculture and fisheries products. As a consequence, provinces can identify the location of certify products and develop the extension program more effectively. In addition, the data in the provincial crop calendar elaborate the diversity of agricultural products in each area and if we can provide information regarding the nutrition in the provincial crop calendar that would provide opportunities of consumer to select more diverse food and nutrition. Food stability, provincial crop calendar demonstrates the agricultural productions in both areas and time dimension which will support the food shortage promptly. The adoption of information technology would provide opportunity for provinces to acknowledge the situation of their production including nearby provinces including the data visualization on the increasing and decreasing of planted area which will enhance capabilities for food production management with a more effective way.